Operation control means for calculating machines



Oct. 30, 1951 w, HQMAN 2,573,022

OPERATION CONTROL MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACH INES Filed July 29, 1948 3maeu tor WALTER HOMAN BYM-M HIS Clttorneg Patented Oct. 30, 1951 OPERATION CONTROL MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Walter Human, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, hio,'a corporation of Maryland Application'July 29, 1948, Serial No. 41,234

4 Claims.

1 This invention relates to switch and clutch mechanisms for starting and stopping calculating machines and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective means to control the release of a calculating machine and simultaneously close a switch and electric circuit through a driving motor therefor.

A specific object of the invention is to simplify the constructions of the prior art for controlling a clutch for a calculating machine and for the closing of a switch of an electric motor therefor.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide direct connections from a clutch arm, usually provided in calculating machines of the class disclosed, to a motor switch arm.

With these and incidental objects in View, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Fig. l is an assembly view showing the clutch mechanism and the switch operating mechanism in their home position.

Fig. 2 is a detail View showing the clutch arm and the switch operating link immediately after the clutch has been released.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 in the position which it assumes just prior to opening of the switch and disengagement of the clutch from the machine.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. 1.

General description The novel clutch and switch control mechanism disclosed herein is provided to simplify the constructions shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,144,418, issued on June 29, 1915, to Charles F. Kettering and William A. Chryst; No. 1,920,328, issued on August 1, 1933, to Bernis M. Shipley; No. 2.060.249, issued on November 10, 1936, to Howard B. Scott; and No. 1,737,907, issued on December 3, 1929, to Charles H. Arnold. Machines of the class in which the invention is shown applied are supplied with what is known in the art as stopstart motors; that is, motors which are energized for a single machine operation. To obtain this result, a switch is provided in the motor circuit, which switch is open when the machine is at rest. The machines are also provided with a 2 clutch mechanism to clutch the motor to the main shaft of the machine for a single machine operation, and at the end of such an operation the motor is again unclutched from the main shaft. In'the prior art, two separate trains of mechanism are provided, one to actuate the clutch release and the other to operate the switch. By his novel construction, applicant has combined the two trains of the prior art, by connecting the switch operating mechanism directly to the clutch control arm, thus not only providing a simpler mechanism but also getting better timing of operations to obtain a better control sequence between the clutch release and the switch closing operations. This sequence also better controls stopping the machine at the end of a machine operation.

Detailed description Machines to which the present invention is shown applied are provided with a main drive shaft [0, on which is secured a gear ll (Figs. 1 and 4). The gear ll meshes with a pinion l2,

rotatably mounted on a shaft l3. The pinion I2 clutch pawl I1 is rocked into engagement with a ratchet wheel 23, secured to a gear, such as a spiral gear 24, rotatably mounted on the extension of the hub I 4. The spiral gear 24' engages with a spiral pinion 25, secured to the motor armature shaft 26.

The machines of the class to which the present invention is shown applied, referred to above, are provided with a clutch release arm 27 (Figs. 1. 2, and 3). The clutch release arm 21 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 28 carried by the framework of the machine. A spring 29 normally tends to rotate the clutch release arm 21 counter-clockwise (Fig. 1) but is normally restrained in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a stud 30 thereon engaging a release arm 3| secured to a release shaft 32.

In the machines referred to above, the release shaft 32 is rocked counter-clockwise (Fig. 1) upon release of the machine for operation. Counter-clockwise rocking of the release arm 31 frees the stud 30 to permit the spring 29 to rock lifts the toe'48 from engagement with the Q49 to'permit the spring 43 to rock; the switch engagement with a tooth on the ratchet wheel zii.

Upon energization of the motor for operation, the armature shaft 26. through the the gear 23, rotates the ratchet wheel-23 and, by its engagement with the clutchpawl-ll,.rotates the disk l5 and, through t e hu q',rij t fa e s the gear H and the pinion l2 to rotate the-,main shaft IU of the machine.

Motors provided for machines disclosed in the above-mentioned patents are normally deenergized, and a switch therethrough must be closed ,to energize the motor; to start it in operation- The witich'disclosedin Big. -1 is .in the ,l motor circuit,

rid therefore, upon said. switchs "being; closed,

tithe motor begins .to goperate. The 'motor switch consists of a stationary contact 40 '(Fig. l) suitll ably mounted onthe frameworkof the machine, Qandfa. movable switchf'dl pivoted on a'stud i'z. The. movable switch arm.-4l is normallyurged I ,counterEclocKWiSe by a springl43. The lower end fof the -switch? 4i vhas connected thereto a flinkl zldpivoted to theflower end of a -short link }45, the latterbeing, alsopivoted to the abovernentioned clutch release arm 21. The; link" 3% provided with a slot 46 engaging on a stud 41 carried by-the framework of the machine to support and guide the left end (Fig.1) of said link 44. The link 44, and therefore-the switcharm f, l. are normally restrained in the open position by a toe 48 formed on the link, engaging a stud 39 carried by a disk 50. The disk 50 is mounted ftorotate on ashoulder of the hub 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Aspring 5|, mountedbetween a block .52 carriedby the diskv l5 and a stud 53 carried on the disk 50, normallywmaintains the 'stud53 in engagement with the one end 'ofaslot 54 in' the disk I5. ==The s'pringfitis stronger than the spring 43, and therefore the spring 43 is. un-

able to overcome l the i stress; of the "spring-5 I.

Hence, when the machine is in normal position, V the switch through the motor will remain open.

Upon rocking f the clutch arm 27-, whe'ri the machine is released for operation, the link45 stud a 4| to'cl'o'se the switch through the motor The have. q idn of W i P rt h sj imee illustrated in Fig. 2.

1 7 v 'ni th m h ne erati es 55 (Fig.1), carried by the gear l l, enga ges the end 55 of a link 51 pivoted to the. clutch release arm 21 and moves' said clutchrelease, arm ,2l

ficlockwise (Fig 1) in'tothe position shown in Fig. 3. When in the position shownin Fig. 3, the

clutch arm 2'I' lies in. thefpath of movement of the shoulder 33 of the 'disk land of the shoulder .34 on the clutch pawl l I v The clockwise rotation (Fig. 1) of the clutch release arm 21, throughuthe link 45, also lowers the toeABinto the. pathofthe studfEQ. At the veryend of, thema'chine. operation, the shoulder 34 of the pawl I1 engages,.the-,, end of the clutch releasearm 2l, ,thusrotating the clutch pawl counter-clockwise (Fig. 3) 'tolift the clutch pawl l I out "of engagement with the I. ratchet wheel 23.

immed at he ea th elwii d siqm s;

4 into engagement with the end of the clutch release arm 21 to arrest the disk l5, and therefore the main shaft of the machine, in their home positions. Simultaneously with the rocking of 5 the clutch release pawl ll out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 23, the stud 49 engages the toe flfi and Splits the linkflitqppen the ,switch 4|, x;.ii-liu s'w e g rot n f e mot As mentioned above, the disk 50 is rotatably nounted on a shoulder of the hub l4 and is held "in its normal position by the spring 5!. This l construction is. used to cushion the blow of the stud i -against the toe 48 at the end of the machinepperation- Normally there is no relative ,inovernent, etween the disks l5 and 50. How- 7 ,ever, ii any. obstruction should be encountered, the cushioning effect of the spring 5| will prevent anydamage' to'the switch operating mechanism. flihe releasing movement of the clutch release arm 2'! is limited by the engagement of a rubber b m r th nsw thi the t d .m ugt on H t e framswo k i lt e ma hin h hbsmpenfi is made of rubber, or otherresilient materiah to lessen the noiseand wear coincidental with the 5 o er i vi the m h n This; eon ructipnfi e' irablei, ae u ia ma hin -281e, a, oi -P 3- i Y1=- 513 j. i .th 1-. 'fi fiflfln movement whips the arm 2'! at a rapidispeed.

,-In ,the novel mechanismdisclosed herein, the 30. spring A3 holds the, contactpoints, 4.0 41 to- 'gether, and the ,pitmar l tiioats during themachine-operation. The rotatinggclutch members haveno mechanical connection. with the. switch mechanism during themachine operation, .hence no wear will develop tolcauseruncertain switch blyl nust exert a constant force duringan opera- -.tion to overcome spring tension,and. ,keep,the switch contacts closed. I i practice a it has. been found that the said cam roll and its stud ;wear, with the result that the switchcentactspre not properly heldclosed.

While, th f rm L of mechan sho nd d scribed herein is admirably adaptfidto fulfill the j cts. p ima ily 1 t t deit .v b unde st that, it v is not intended to. confine; the ,inyentipn 50 to the one form or embodimentshown herein,

,for it. is. susceptible-bf embodimentinvarious other. forms. I

--What.is claimed is:

1. In a machine ofthe class described, azclutch mechanism. consisting of aeidriving. member, a driven member, anielement carried by one of said members, a spring to move said element from a non-connecting-position into a position to connect the driving member to v the driven member,

.60, j a a. ea s immr e l r mai t i sa em in sa n -Q QIi QtiI e. pos tion .t combination, of a motor to "drive the; driving 7 .member, a normally openswitch ,in a circuit drrsii v a d motor, lfir t1 havine .o e. en

.65 thereof pivoted on vtherelease arm a second link ,conneetingthe other end .of the said first link i to-the switch; a spring to, urge the, said second link in switch clcsingdirection; a toe formedion r- I a d l nk r i een e a d mbe 70c' oactihg'1 with said toefto normally retain said Isecond namedlinkdn a position to n aintain said i switch open, and an o eratingdevice. to operate s r l a e.-

:fiwl l e s d eme t; 9 t ac io t e r tna ed S in to cellsegthegeh- .75,. we t :#:1 1 9fith ,;,d v n t lement he; rir

. "AJMM element, said release arm and first named link thereby moving said toe from engagement with said means to release the second-named link to the action of said second-named spring to cause the second-named link to move to close said switch.

2. In a machine of the class described, a clutch mechanism consisting of a driving member, a driven member, an element carried by one of said members, a spring to move said element from a non-connecting position into a position to connect the driving member to the driven member, and a release arm normally maintaining said element in said non-connecting position; the combination of a motor to drive the driving member, a normally open switch in a circuit through said motor, a first link having one end thereof pivoted on the release arm; a second link connecting the other end of the said first link to the switch; a spring to urge the said second link in switch closing direction; a toe formed on one of said links; a projection on one of said members coacting with the toe to normally restrain the secondnamed link and the switch in open position, and means to operate said release arm to release said element to move into connecting position, said release arm acting through the first-named link to release the toe from the projection to thereafter control the closing of said switch to start the motor operating to operate the driving member.

3. In a machine of the class described, a clutch mechanism consisting of a driving member, a driven member, an element carried by one of said members and movable from a non-connecting position into a position to connect the driving member to the driven member, and a release arm normally maintaining said element in said nonconnecting position; the combination of a motor to drive the driving member, a normally open switch in a circuit through said motor, a first link pivoted to the release arm, a second link connecting the first link to the switch, a spring to urge the second link and the switch toward the closed position of the switch, a toe formed on the second link, a projection on one of said members engaging with the toe to normally restrain the linkage against the action of the spring and thereby maintain the switch in open position,

means to operate said release arm to release said element to cause the element to connect the driving element to the driven element and to disengage the toe from said projection to thereafter cause the second link to be moved by said spring to close said switch, said projection movable into contact with the toe to move the second link at the end of a machine operation to open the switch, and connections to restore the release arm to normal position, wherein said element is moved into non-connecting position and the toe is moved into the path of movement of said projection.

4. In a machine of the class described, a clutch mechanism consisting of a driving member, a driven member, an element carried by one of said members and movable from a non-connecting position to a position to connect the driving member to the driven member, and a release arm normally maintaining said element in said noncomiecting position; the combination of a motor to drive the driving member, a normally open switch in a circuit through said motor, a first link pivoted to the release arm, a second link pivoted to the first link and connected to the switch arm, a spring to urge the second link and the switch arm toward the closed position of the switch, a projection on one of said members engaging with the toe to normally restrain the second link against the action of the spring and thereby hold the switch in open position, and means to operate said release arm to release said element to cause the element to connect the driving element to the driven element and to disengage the toe from said projection to thereafter cause the second link to be moved by said spring to close said switch, said projection movable into contact with the toe to move the second link at the end of a machine operation to open the switch.

WALTER HOMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,737,907 Arnold Dec. 3, 1929 1,923,685 Phinney Aug. 22, 1933 1,964,478 Overbury June 26, 1934 2,215,263 Eichler Sept. 17, 1940 2,251,100 Anderson July 29, 1941 2,347,425 Mageoch Apr. 25, 1944 2,370,730 Hopping Mar. 6, 1945 2,456,980 Moody Dec. 21, 1948 

